[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Chestnuthill 10-16-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-03.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter also repealed former Ch.
37, Burning, Outdoor, adopted 10-1-1975 by Ord. No. 46, as amended.
This chapter shall be known as the "Chestnuthill Township Open
Burning Ordinance."
The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall have the following meanings ascribed to them:
The act of consuming by fire; to flame, char, scorch, or
blaze. As used in this chapter, "smoldering" shall have the same meaning
as burning, and any smoldering shall be deemed a burning.
Of or pertaining to any wholesale, retail, industrial, manufacturing,
transportation, or financial or professional service or office enterprise,
business, or establishment.
The process by which organic solid waste is biologically
decomposed under controlled anaerobic or aerobic conditions to yield
a humus-like product.
[Added 8-4-2015 by Ord.
No. 2015-07]
All putrescible animal and vegetable matter resulting from
the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
Any establishment engaged in service to persons, including,
but not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages, schools,
universities, churches, and social or fraternal societies and organizations.
Any garbage, refuse, industrial lunchroom or office waste
and other material, including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained
gaseous material, resulting from the operation of residential, municipal,
commercial, or institutional establishments and from community activities,
and any sludge not meeting the definition of "residual or hazardous
waste" as defined in the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act[1] from a municipal, commercial or institutional water supply
treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant or air pollution control
facility. The term does not include source-separated recyclable materials.
A fire in which any solid fuel or waste is burned in the
open or in a receptacle other than a furnace or an incinerator permitted
by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
[Amended 8-4-2015 by Ord.
No. 2015-07]
Any individual, public or private corporation for profit
or not for profit, association, partnership, firm, trust, estate,
department, board, bureau or agency of the commonwealth or the federal
government, political subdivision, municipality, district, authority,
or any other legal entity whatsoever which is recognized by law as
the subject of rights and duties.
Materials designated as recyclable in Chapter 90, Solid Waste and Recycling, or required by the terms of that chapter, any amendment thereto or designated by resolution of the Township to be kept separate from municipal waste and recycled, including leaf waste.
Any dwelling unit used as a place of human habitation and
which is not commercial, municipal, institutional, or a community
activity. Home occupations incidental to be residential use within
a building are considered residential.
An individual 18 years or older who is not under the influence
of drugs or alcohol or suffering from any other disability which would
impair his or her ability to properly supervise a fire.
Solid waste exclusive of garbage (e.g., nonrecyclable glass,
metal, paper or plastic) and noncompostable plant material, wood or
nonputrescible solid waste.
Waste, including, but not limited to, municipal, residual
or hazardous wastes, including solid, liquid, semisolid or contained
gaseous materials.
Leaves, grass clippings, garden residue, tree trimmings,
chipped wood waste, and other vegetative material.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq.
[Added 8-4-2015 by Ord.
No. 2015-07[1]]
A.
Subject only to the exceptions hereinafter specifically set forth,
open burning of materials in Chestnuthill Township is strictly prohibited,
including, but not limited to, garbage; municipal waste; recyclables;
rubbish; solid waste; yard waste; plastic products of any kind; building
materials, either new or used, including but not limited to wood and
lumber, treated wood and lumber, roofing shingles, tar paper, insulation
of any kind, vinyl or composite siding, synthetic and composite decking
and lumber, flooring materials of any kind, plastic or Tyvek-type
house wrap, PVC or other plastic-type pipe, rubber products, paint
and stain, carpet and carpet padding, glues and adhesives, and any
materials used to package or otherwise contain any of the aforementioned
materials; furniture and mattresses; tires; flammable and combustible
liquids, motor oil, waste oil or any other liquid fuels capable of
being burned unless used in a furnace or stove designed to burn such
liquids by the manufacturer; newspapers, magazines, cardboard or other
recyclable paper products; leaves, trimmings, twigs, branches and
similar yard waste unless in the case of twigs and branches used for
campfires or cooking fires, grills, outdoor fireplaces, chimineas
or similar devices; any other material able to be recycled at the
Chestnuthill Township Recycling Center at the time of adoption of
this chapter or in the future.
B.
The following are exceptions to the prohibition of open burning:
(1)
A fire set to prevent or abate a fire hazard, when approved by the
Department of Environmental Protection's Regional Air Quality
Program office and set by or under the supervision of a public officer.
(2)
Any fire set for the purpose of instructing personnel in firefighting,
when approved by the Department of Environmental Protection's
Regional Air Quality Program office.
(3)
A fire set for the prevention and control of disease or pests, when
approved by the Department of Environmental Protection's Regional
Air Quality Program office.
(4)
A fire set in conjunction with the production of agricultural commodities
in their unmanufactured state on the premises of the farm operation.
(5)
A fire set solely for cooking food or for warmth, fellowship, recreational
or ceremonial purposes such as a campfire, grill, outdoor fireplace,
fire ring, chiminea or similar device, provided that the fire is set
with charcoal, natural wood and wood products only. It should be noted
that small amounts of paper may be used to start or kindle fires as
well as commercially manufactured fire starters and fire logs.
(6)
A cooking grill or outdoor heater manufactured specifically for the
use of propane or natural gas fuels, or liquid fuels such as kerosene.
(7)
A bonfire, provided that the fire is set with natural wood and wood
products only.
Fires that are permitted by this chapter shall be subject to
the following conditions:
A.
Fires shall be permitted only when conditions are not such that there
is an undue chance of conflagration or wildfire due mainly, but not
limited to, extremely dry conditions as determined by the Chestnuthill
Township Fire Chief. The Township Manager, upon notification by the
Fire Chief of such determination, shall be authorized to place a Township
burn ban into effect. The Township Manager shall only lift a burn
ban upon recommendation by the Fire Chief. No burning of any kind
shall be permitted during burning bans placed in effect by the Township.
[Amended 8-4-2015 by Ord.
No. 2015-07]
B.
With the exception of permitted fires pursuant to § 37-3B(1) through (6), fires shall not be permitted within 100 feet of any structure or within 50 feet of other combustible materials or areas not intended to be burned. A fire set solely for cooking food or for warmth, fellowship, recreational or ceremonial purposes such as a campfire shall be exempt from this provision, provided that it is contained, located so that other combustible materials cannot be ignited and a means of extinguishment is readily available;
[Amended 8-4-2015 by Ord.
No. 2015-07]
C.
All
fires shall be attended by a responsible person at all times until
completely extinguished;
D.
Means to extinguish the fire, including but not limited to an adequate
supply of water or other extinguishing agent or heavy equipment such
as a backhoe or bulldozer, shall be readily available at all times
while the fire is burning;
E.
Fires shall not be permitted to spread beyond the original location
or beyond property lines;
F.
Fires shall not be permitted to be ignited if wind speeds exceed
10 miles per hour. If wind speeds increase to exceed 10 miles per
hour after a fire has been ignited, it shall promptly be extinguished
until wind conditions are more favorable;
[Amended 8-4-2015 by Ord.
No. 2015-07]
G.
Fires shall not be permitted within 50 feet of adjoining property
lines;
H.
No fire shall be permitted to burn in such a manner that produces
smoke so as to interfere with the reasonable use of adjoining premises;
I.
No person shall burn, ignite, incinerate, maintain or otherwise permit
any fire upon any of the streets, roads, alleys and/or public rights-of-way
in Chestnuthill Township.
The Chestnuthill Township Zoning Officer, the Chestnuthill Township
Fire Marshal and the Chestnuthill Township Fire Chiefs shall serve
as the Enforcement Officers and shall be responsible for enforcing
the terms of this chapter.
[Amended 8-4-2015 by Ord.
No. 2015-07]
This chapter shall be enforced by action brought before a Magisterial
District Judge in the same manner provided for the enforcement of
summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Any person, partnership, corporation or other entity who or which
violates or permits a violation of the provisions of this chapter
shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, pay a fine of not
less than $100 nor more than $1,000 per violation, plus all court
costs and reasonable attorneys fees incurred by Chestnuthill Township
in the enforcement proceedings, and/or be imprisoned to the extent
allowed by law for the punishment of summary offenses. Each day or
portion thereof that a violation exists or continues shall constitute
a separate violation. Each section of this chapter that is violated
shall also constitute a separate violation. Further, the appropriate
officers or agents of Chestnuthill Township are hereby authorized
to seek equitable relief, including injunction, to enforce compliance
with this chapter. All fines, penalties, costs and reasonable attorneys
fees collected for the violation of this chapter shall be paid to
Chestnuthill Township for its general use.
The Chestnuthill Township Zoning Officer, the Chestnuthill Township
Fire Marshal and the Chestnuthill Township Fire Chiefs are hereby
authorized to issue citations for the violation of this chapter.
A.
In the case of a fire requiring firefighters and/or equipment and
upon conviction of any violation of this chapter, the violator shall
also pay charges in order to cover the fire-fighting costs. Charges
shall be assessed for use of the following fire-fighting equipment:
B.
Additional labor charges shall be assessed under this chapter based
upon an hourly rate for all firefighters engaged in the fire-fighting
activities.
[Amended 8-4-2015 by Ord.
No. 2015-07]
C.
The Board of Supervisors shall determine by resolution a reasonable
schedule of costs based upon mileage, operating costs and fire-fighting
equipment and staff hours. These charges shall be in addition to and
not in lieu of any penalties provided elsewhere by this chapter.
The Township of Chestnuthill, its supervisors, agents, officials
and representatives shall not, under any circumstances, be liable
or responsible for any damages caused to any person or property by
reason of the provisions of this chapter or by reason of the conduct
of any burning activity in compliance with the terms and provisions
of this chapter. The individual person or party responsible for any
such fire shall bear sole liability for any damages caused as a result
thereof.
